All of my books in the Pecan Bayou cozy mystery series feature a
character named Danny, an adult with Down Syndrome. Danny is my heroine's
cousin and just one of many characters who contribute to solving mysteries,
getting caught by the bad guy, and just making life more enjoyable in my tiny
Texas town. I have had many interviewers asking about him mostly because it's
pretty hard to find a mystery series that features a person with a disability.
But wait! If you take a good long look at Sherlock Holmes in light of his
recent portrayals could it be that he had Aspergers? Maybe we've seen people
with disabilities for longer than we know-don't forget Monk the obsessive
compulsive detective. I love that guy.

I featured Danny in my fictional world because I am the parent of
an adult with Down Syndrome in the real world. My son Andrew is part of a
composite of many of the young people with Down Syndrome I've had the pleasure
to get to know over the years. Andrew has also been diagnosed with autism/pdd
so his communication skills and functional abilities are not anywhere near
Danny's abilities, but he does have his stubbornness and the ability to show
love to me even when I'm tired and cranky.

When I first started wanting to be a writer I pursued publishing
down traditional paths. One agent stated that if I wasn't willing to make at
least 50 appearances a year there was no way they could promote my book. As a
parent I was not willing to make that kind of sacrifice so I tabled my writing.
I eventually decided to take the plunge and independently publish and with that
create my own appearances in the virtual world. Promoting a book is important
and part of the whole deal, but like everything else as a parent of a disabled
individual I had to find a way to make it fit our lives, not the other way
around. Right now, as I am writing this my son is in the next room playing and
watching TV and I am right where I want to be. It can be difficult to have a
life that can exist along with being a parent/caretaker, but I think it's
important for all of us to create a balance of some sort. I was an aspiring
writer before I had Andrew and for me to be happy I had to find a way to be one
after as well.

In my latest mystery, Buzzkill, Betsy is getting married and of
course Danny is along helping decorate, telling a gay wedding planner how much
he likes his shiny shirt, and bringing a girlfriend to the wedding. Danny is a
part of the family and community and one of my favorite characters. As I start
thinking about my next series I know I can't bring along Danny, but don't
worry, people with disabilities are everywhere in real life so why shouldn't
they be in fiction?

Its great learning more about you Teresa! I'm anxious to read all the books in this series!

More about Teresa Trent:Teresa Trent lives in Texas and loves writing about small town life.

She first got the idea to create Pecan Bayou after visiting the Texas Hill Country to view the millions of springtime flowers alongside the roads and highways. The town of Pecan Bayou does not exist in Texas, but there is a body of water in the state with the name. Pecan Bayou does exist in Teresa’s imagination and heart. Buzzkill is the fourth book in the Pecan Bayou series featuring all of the crazy characters who live in this cozy little town in Texas.

Since I haven't read any of the Pecan Bayou Series I did not know about Danny. But after this interview, I'm more than ever interested in reading the series. I've met some Down Syndrome persons over my lifetime, and have always found them to be loving and happy people. I'm sure that's not always true as one is around them all the time, but that is how I perceive them. And I think it is great when a special needs person is written into novels [as long as it's not stereotype, or in a bad light] -- they are a part of life; and should not be ignored.

Teresa, I love it that you have featured a character with Down syndrome in your book, and that you were creative in figuring out how to stay home with your son and pursue your writing dreams. I would love to see more special needs characters in fiction, especially as sensitively and positively portrayed as you clearly do with Danny. I haven't read your series but I will definitely be keeping an eye out for it now!

I am overwhelmed by all of your kind comments. Donna-you're right in that people with Down Syndrome are not always happy but with my son there is always time for a hug, no matter what mood he's in. Thank you all and thanks for hosting me on my tour!